There is a lingering sadness that I know is shared widely in the Rockford Community as we mark another week of silence from Rockford Talk Radio WNTA. Though long-residing on the AM dial at 1330AM, WNTA had moved to the big time with its new home at 100.5FM. Regardless of where it resided, it stood out as a critical, lively and very “real” space where our community ranted, raged and carried on about life in our town.

It was also the aural stage for celebration, education and yes, a bit of pontification from many of us who were so privileged to be “live on NTA.” Those who have led our great city and our county have always known that Rockford’s very heartbeat and its attitude about life could be measured by listening to Uncle Doug, the great newsman Ken DeCoster, thoughtful Paul Youngblood and the man who redefined the superlative, Dean Ervin.

It has been my honor to offer the financial support of our firm, MainStreet Financial Group for many years. Even more an honor, it was my great joy to bring some sense of the financial markets throughout the week from wherever I happened to be ... never taped ... always live ... the NTA way. There is no way I will ever be able to summarize my own experience as one of the “minor voices” or my gratitude to serve the NTA community for all those great years ... day by day and always ... live on NTA.

The end of Rockford Talk Radio came suddenly on Friday, Feb. 21. There was no lively debate on the air for even a minute or two. At 3 p.m. our community lost its voice. The decision to bring Rockford Talk Radio WNTA to its end was a business decision. There were those of us who offered financial support on behalf of our business enterprise.

Unfortunately, it was not enough to keep this true jewel of local community radio on the air. Great radio personalities lost their jobs, as did good folks who served in the background of the station. Many of my fellow citizens have told me that they lost a “friend” who had kept them company at home or in the office or in the car. It really wasn’t radio noise, it was Rockford alive and engaged — a little crazy, a little off the point, but always real and demanding our attention.

Those who have listened to me go on about the financial markets over all of these years know that I am a bit of an Irish dreamer. I don’t give up easily! I want to challenge our community to bring Rockford Talk Radio back again. Business owners, politicians, fellow citizens, educators, church and synagogue leaders — all of us have lost a treasure that gave us a common voice. At a time when pressures grow to divide us, to polarize our beliefs and to distort our attitudes about the life we share in this community, the need for Rockford Radio is greater than ever.

Page 2 of 2 - Please join me in extending our gratitude to the great radio personalities at WNTA over all of these years. Let us work together to find the way to bring the strong, community-affirming signal back to WNTA.